Siphonic flushing apparatus



April 1951 J. c. OWENS 2,549,383

SIPHONIC FLUSHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1947 3 Sheets-Shet 1 1 I 1 A l 1 I I IN V EN TOR. .529, Z Jam: 6. OWEA/J A rroe-EY April 7, 1951 J. c. OWENS 2,549,383

SIPHONIC FLUSHING APPARATUS IN VEN TOR. Jesse C. Owe-M:

April 17, 1951 J. c. OWENS SIPHONIC FLUSHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 24, 1947 F lo a7 4 r s INVENTOR. Jesse C. O S/v: BY Km g W L 6 Afro Quay Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE SIIHONIC FLUSHING APPARATUS Jesse 0. Owens, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 24, 1947, Serial No. 730,447

3 Claims. (Cl. 4-44) This invention relates to flushing apparatus of the type commonly used in water closet systems, and more particularly to flushing devices wherein the flow of water from a tank is controlled by a siphon rather than by a relatively undependable, short-lived and noisy check valve.

) It is an object of my present invention to provide a flushing apparatus of the siphon type wherein the siphon element is movable and wherein the flushing action is started simply by.

lowering the siphon tube until it is submerged within water stored within the tank, with the result that water starts flowing by gravity over tank is stopped automatically when water has.

been withdrawn from the tank in sufficient quantity for the upper surface of the water to fall below the intake end of the siphon, thus permitting air to be drawn into the siphon and consequently breaking the siphonic action, and wherei in the siphon tube itself rises to a position sufficiently elevated to dispose a substantial portion thereof above the high water level within the tank so that the siphon tube itself serves as the element preventing subsequent flushing action and leakage from the tank until the apparatus again is actuated to submerge the siphon tube.

Another object is to provide, in a specialized embodiment of the present invention, means for supplying an auxiliary flow of water to the siphon tube directly from the water supply, this auxil iary flow being maintained during the entire time when siphonic action takes place, thus causing a quantity of water considerably in excess of that stored within the tank to be delivered each time the flushing operation occurs.

A further object in this same connection is to provide means for restricting the flow of water by siphonic action, thus further prolonging the time during which the auxiliary flow from the water supply is maintained and further increasing the amount of water delivered each time the flushing apparatus is actuated.

The invention possesses other objects and feaforms within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a viewtaken in transverse vertical section through a flushing tank to show flushing apparatus embodying the present invention operably installed therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view taken in transverse vertical section through the flushing apparatus '7 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view partially in vertical section, showing a modified form of adaptor for mounting the flushing apparatus of the present invention within a flushing tank.

7 Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the flexible portion of the siphon tube of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modified form of flushing apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail View in vertical 'medialsection ,of the intake end of the siphon tube of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical, medial sectional View taken through a further modified form of siphon tube embodying principles of present invention.

Figure 8 is a horizontal, transverse sectional view taken upon the line 8-8 of Figure 7 with the direction of View as indicated.

Figure 9 is an exploded View of the packing elements employed for providing a fluid-tight, slidingjoint between the telescopic sections comprising the siphon tube of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the adjustable stop for the upper end of the spring employed as a portion of the telescopic siphon tube of Figure .7.

Figures 1 and 2 are illustrative of one embodiment of the flushing apparatus of the present invention operably installed in aflushing tank ll of conventional design; The outletpipe 2, whereby water discharged from the tank H is conducted to a toilet fixture (not shown), is illustrated as being in the form of an L rigidly a'sleeve l6 extending downwards through a suitable opening H in the tanks bottom 13. A packing ring i8 is compressed tightly against the ver tical portion of the L l2 by a gland nut 59- thread- This type of connection for the outlet pipe i2: is conventionally employed in flushing tanks in which control is exercised over the'di-scharge of water by a ball check valve which must be .lifted 01f its seat to permit escape of water from the tank into the outlet pipe; andthat modification of my improved flushing apparatus illustrated.- in Figures 1 and 2 is intended as a replacement for the conventional ball check valve by the simpletexpedient of removingthe ball valve'and'inse'rting as a replacement therefor the lowerend" (H of theoutlet porti01'132 of the movablesiphon tube 33 which constitutes andmportantpart of my improved flushing apparatus. The upper'surface of the head 22 is providedwitha concavity: 34 designed to function as thevalve'seat for the conventional ball check valve; and after t'he'con' ventional valve'has been removed this concavity 34 provides a convenient recessf'oraconica'l seal ing gasket 35 of resilient materialpressed downwards into the concavity 34'byan annular *plate 36 rigidly and preferably permanentlysecured to the tubular lower end 3i of the outlet portion 32 of the siphon tube.

A frusto-conical .portioniSl of "the'siphonsoutlet portion EZis provided adjacentthedischarge' end thereof, and is adapted to compress acom plem'entarily, formed 'sealinggasket '38 by squeezing it tightly against the borejofthesleeveit" when the frusto conicalportion" 3? is th'ru'st' downwards into the sleeve, thusenhan'cingflthe' efficiencyof the fluid-tight seal 'establish'edbe tween the outlet portion 32" of "thesiph'on tube 33 and the sleeve it when the siphon tubefis mounted in operative'posi'tion as illustrated in Figure 2;

Figure 3shows a slightly modified arrangement for mounting thersiphontube inioperativ'e position. In this modification the lower end ll'of. the outlet portion of the siphon tubei's'exteriorly threadedand is of sufiicientj length to. extend.

through .thebottom 42'of the tanktoreceive both a nut 13 and a packing gland l i 'th'ereuponbclow the tanks bottom e2. Bytighteningthenut 43"the siphon tube ismade rigid with the tanks bottom 42 and-a gasket i6 is compressed between alplate t? carriedby. the siphon tube andlthe.

upper surface of. the tanks bottom 52; and. by

tightening the gland'M another packing ring id is tightened both against the extremelower end of the siphonsoutlet portion and against the outer periphery of the discharge pipe as which leads from the flush box to the toilet fixture.

Referringagain.toFigures 1 and 2, preferably an obliquely extending portion is provided as a part of the lower end of the siphons outlet portion 32; and to the upper end ofthis obliquely extending portion 55 a flexible tube 52. is secured as by-a strap clamp 53. Preferably the tube 5?. iscomposed of rubber or. composition of a consistency which makes thetube reasonably flexible and still possessed ofna sufiicient degree of resiliency to retain its shape, considered'bothwith respect to its being of tubular form and a s s containing a bend 54 of substantially This bend may be provided by molding the flexible tube 52 with preferably a plurality of corrugations as along the inner side of the bend so as to facilitate flexing the siphon tube from its nor mal position as indicated in full lines in Figure 2 to that position which is illustrated in broken lines in that figure.

The inherent resiliency of the material of which the flexible tube is composed preferably is sufficient for the retention of the siphon tube in its uppermost of normal position; however, as a precautionary measure, a reinforcing spring 5? may be-emplcyed, this spring preferably being in thefc-rnrofa fiat, elongated strap of non-corrosive material, rigidly secured at its lower end tothe stationary portion of the siphons outlet end asby being engaged under the same clamp 53 as that which is relied upon to retain the flexible tube 52 thereupon. The spring 5'! is flexedso as substantially to follow the curvature of the outside portion of the bend 5d and the'upper end of the spring 5? is slidably engaged within-an eye 58 which conveniently is provided upon the clamp 59 which is employed to fasten the upper endof the flexible tube 52 'tothe portion" of the siphon tube which communicates therewith.

This portion of the siphon tube 33 comprises an inlet portion 35 and'a bend 62. The inlet portion 6| opens at its lower end 63 to the interior of the tank l i; and from the lower end 33, the inlet portion 6! inclines upwards to one end of the bend 62, the other end of the bend E52 being in' communication with the upper end of the flexible tube 52 which inclines downwards from the bend. 62.around the bend 54 and into communication with the-discharge pipe l2.

that when the siphon tube occupies its normal position thebend 62 is disposed above the high water level 66 within the tank ll. However, when theflexible tube 52 is flexed in such a man'-. ner as to increase the curvature of the bend '54;

the upper portion of the siphon tube will be' lowered far enough to submerge all of thev siphon" tube within the tank I, provided the tank is. filledtoits normal capacity.

When the outlet portion iii of the siphon tube 321' is empty and thebendeZ is disposed above the waterline E6; of course water willnotflow through the siphon tube 3! because it cannot rise within the inlet portion 5! far enough'to:

flow over the bend. However, when'therbend 162 issubmergedwater will start to flow through the siphon tube, entering the inlet end 63 and flowingthrough the inlet portion 6| around the bend 62 and through the outlet portion 3i and into the outlet pipe i2. Thereafter, the water flowing by gravity downwards through the outlet portion will-develop siphonic action within the siphon tube in'accordance with well-known principles and cause through the siphon tube, even thoughithe siphon tube may return to its initial position with a portion thereof elevated above thelevel ofv the water, until a suiiicientv quantityv of water has been withdrawn from the tank H to lower its level to that or the opening 63 in the inlet end of the siphontube. When this occurs, air will be drawn into the siphon tube,.breaking the siphonic action andcause discontinuance of flow from the tank H to the discharge pipe l2.

Thus it may be seen that flow of Water to perform the flushing operation is'both' started and The parts are so proportioned and arranged.

water to continue to' flow stopped without necessitating the use of any check, valve and consequently with the elimination ofnoises which'necessarily accompany the manipulation of the mechanical connections necessary for the operation of any such valve.- Morover, 'water flows through the siphon tube smoothly and without the degree of restriction which occurs when water is required to flow between an opened ba-ll check valve and its seat, with the result that the hissing and gurgling noises usually accompanying the flushing of a conventional toilet fixture are largely eliminated by the apparatus of the present invention.

A transversely extending shaft H is mounted for rocking movement on the front wall of the tank I I and the shaft H extends through the front wall so that a manually operable handle I2 rigid with the shaft II can be positioned in a conveniently accessible location on the front of the tank." Within the tank II the shaft II also carries a finger 13 rigid therewith and extending laterally therefrom in that direction which causes it, when the handle I2 is in normal position, to seat within a recess I4 of an arm I6 which is pivotally mounted Within, and which extends laterally from a valve housing 11 supported upon the upper end of a water inlet pipe I8. I

The arm I6 is provided with a second recess 19 so arranged that when the arm I8 is at its upper extreme of movement the recess I9 is spaced from the shaft 'H a shorter distance than the spacing between the shaft II and the recess I4. Consequently when the handle 12 is depressed from its normal position, turning the shaft II in a counter-clockwise. direction as viewed upon Figure 1, the finger I3 will be removed from the recess I4 and, after forcing the arm 16 downwards substantially to the position illustrated in Figure 1, seat within the second recess I9.

To the outer end of the arm 13 is secured a rod 8| carrying upon its outer end a float 82 The float 82 and rod BI normally retain the arm I6 in its upper position because of the tendency of the float 82 to rest upon the upper surface of the water within the tank. The arm I6 extends into the valve housing I! where it operates a suitable valve mechanism, the details of which need not be described in detail because they do not constitute an essential part of the present invention. For the purpose of this disclosure, it is necessary only to explain that when the arm I6 is in its uppermost position, the-valve mechanism. within the housing 11 is closed, but when the arm I6 is lowered therefrom to the position illustrated in Figure l or to a position lower than that illustrated, the valve mechanism will be opened, permitting water to flow from the supply pipe I8 through the valve housing 11 and to a delivery tube 83.

The delivery tube 83 leads through a valve housing 85; and beyond the valve housing 86 the delivery tube 83 is provided with an upwardly V directed portion 31 to which a flexible tube 88 is secured, the latter serving as a nozzle and extending upwards into the lower'end of the inlet portion SI of the siphon tube. Just below the lower end of the flexible tube 88, the upwardly directed portion 8! of thesupply tube is provided with a plurality of apertures 9| and with an upwardly opening cup 92, the bottom of which is below the apertures 9| and the flaring side wall 92 of which extends upwards'beyond the level of the apertures 9 I. V

Means are provided for imparting the necessary movement to the siphon tube to submerge its upper portion and thereby institute the flushing operation. The shaft II carries a second arm 96 extending radially therefrom in substantially the opposite direction from that in which the handle I2 extends, with the result that when the handle I2 is depressed, the arm. 98 will be raised. Consequently a weight 9'! on the outer end of the arm 96 resists turning the shaft H in that direction in which it is caused to turn by depressing the handle I2; and it also urges the shaft H to return to normal position after the handle I2 has been released. A link 98 is pivoted at its upper end to the arm 96, and the lower end of the link 98 is pivoted to a lug 99 rigid with the lower end of the inlet portion 6| of the siphon.

Consequently, when the handle I2 is depressed,

an upward pull will be imposed upon the lower end of the siphons inlet portion BI, and since the direction in which this pull is exerted is .offset laterally from the point on the bottom l3 of the tank to which the outlet portion 3| of the siphon is connected, the effect of this upward pull is to bend the flexible portion 52 of the siphon, causing the bend 82 at the upper portionof the siphon to swing to the right and down wards from the full line position in Figure 2 to the dotted line position. In this latter position the entire siphon tube is submerged, with the result that siphonic action will start within the siphon tube as hereinabove described, thus causing water to be discharged from the tank II through the'siphon tube and thence through the discharge pipe I2. The flow of water thus induced will continue until a sufficient quantity of water has been withdrawn from the tank II to permit air to enter the siphon tube and thus break the siphonic action.

In some instances itmay be satisfactory to permit air to enter the opening 63 in the inlet end of the siphon tube, under which circumstances the siphon tube should be so designed that when it is in its most nearly upright position the opening 63 at the inlet end of the siphon tube is closely adjacent the desired low water level within the tank II. However, under other circumstances it may be desirable to provide especial means for permitting air to enter the siphon tube for the purpose of breaking siphonic action. An auxiliary air inlet tube IUI may be afiixed to the inlet portion BI of the siphon tube, the open lower end I02 of the air inlet tube IUI being disposed adjacent the lower end of the siphons inlet portion SI and the upper end I03 of the air inlet tube I OI opening into the'interior of the bend 62. As the result of this arrangement, when sufficient water has been withdrawn from the tank II to uncover the open lower end I02 of the air inlet tube, air will be admitted to the bend 62 of the siphon tube and thus cause discontinuance of the siphonic action.

The finger I3 has the upper end of a push rod I86 pivoted thereto, the lower end of the push rod I06 beingengaged with a valve I81 reciprocal as viewed in Figure 1, the valve I01 will be The Valve iEl'I is lowered, bringing the alternative, obliquely extending passage I09 into position for its lower end to register with the port Ill and its upper end into registry with a port I 13 which leads directly into the tank I I. I

When the handle I2 is depressed, the shaft 25 is rotated counter-clockwise, carrying with it the finger I3 so that it passes from the deeper recess 14 into the shallower recess 19. This forces the arm I6 downwards, moving the float 82 substantially to the position illustrated in Figure 1 and opening the valve within the housing ll, thus causing water to be delivered through the tube 83. As hereinabove pointed out, when the finger 73 moves upward into the shallower recess l9, it raises the valve lil'i so that its straight passage #68 interconnects the two opposed portions of the delivery tube 83. Consequently, all of the water delivered through the water supply valve will, so long as the finger '33 remains within the shallower recess it, be jetted upwards into the imet portion 6! of the siphon tube, thus causin all of the water flowing through the siphon tube to travel at greater velocity and thereby increasing the efiiciency of the flushing operation. Moreover, the presence of the jet of water entering the inlet portion 6| of the siphon tube iacilitates prompt initiation of siphonic action with in the siphon tube, it being understood that the action of submerging the siphon tube and commencement of flow through the flexible nozzle 88 occur simultaneously. 7

Owing to the upward pressure exerted by the arm I6 against the finger 73 because of the tendency for the float 82 to rise to the surface of the water into which it has been submerged, the finger I3 and the valve I87 will remain in the respective positions thereof illustrated in Figure 1, for an appreciable period after the handle '32 has been actuated, the length of that period being determined by the depth to which the float 82 is submerged, the quantity of water stored within the tank I I above that depth, and the rate at which that quantity of water is withdrawn from the tank through the siphon tube. However, when sufficient water has been withdrawn from the tank II for the level of the water to fall below the position at which the float 82 was submerged by depressing the handle '12, the float 82 will move to a lower position, permitting the arm 76 to move away from the finger 173, thus releasing the finger I3 from the recess it whereupon gravity, acting upon the weight Sl, will return the finger 3, the shaft II, and the handle I2 to their initial positions. '13 move back into proper position for it to be received within the deeper recess it when the fioat 82 again rises; and this movement of the finger 53 will be accompanied by the lowering of the valve it? with the result that thereafter the water delivered through the delivery tube 33 no longer will be jetted into the siphon tube, but will be delivered directly to the interior of the tank l I outside the siphon tube.

Consequently, when the tank H has been so nearly emptied that the level of the water then remaining in the tank is below either the open lower end I92 of the auxiliary air inlet tube Iili, or below the opening 53 at the lower end of the siphon tubes inlet portion, as the case might be, air will enter the siphon tube, breaking the siphonic action as hereinabove indicated. Consequently, escape or" water from the tank will cease and the tank again will be filled by water escaping through the port N3 of the valve hous- Thus will the finger ing 86 until the rising water within the tank raises the float 82 and closes the water'supply valve within the housing ll.

When the siphonic action is broken, the inlet portion 5! will be full of water and it will flow backwards within the inlet portion BI because the level of the water then remaining in the tank I I is at or adjacent the inlet portions lower end 63. It has been found that if this water is permitted to rush unrestrictedly into the tank II, it is apt to be undesirably noisy, and it is for the purpose of retarding this flow back into the tank that the cup 92 is provided upon the upwardly directed portion 8'5 of the delivery tube 83 immediately below the inlet end 63 of the siphon tube.

Figure 5 illustrates a modification of the siphonic flushing apparatus of the present invention wherein the siphon tube I2 I instead of containing a portion which is laterally flexible, is provided with a section I22 of tubing within its outlet portion I23, which section is of resiliently flexible material. The section I22 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially extending corrugations IN, thus defining a bellows capable of variation in length with the result that the bend and outlet portion 21 of the siphonv tube I2I can move vertically. In its upper eX- treme of movement, the bend I26 is above the high water level within the associated tank I28, as illustrated in full lines, with the result that siphonic action will not start until the bend I26 is lowered substantially to the position illustrated in broken lines in which position the bend S26 is completely submerged and siphonic action will start, as explained hereinabove in connection with the first described modification.

Such lowering of th siphon tube I2I is attained by means of a rod l3I extending laterally from an arm i152 pivotally mounted upon a valve housing I33 supported at the upper end of a water inlet tube I355. The rod 13! engages a bracket HE rigid with the bend iZt of the siphon tube I2I in such a manner that when the arm P I32 is rotated clockwise, as viewed in Figure 5,

the bend IZE will be lowered against the inherent expansive resiliency of the material of which the bellows tube 122 is composed. A vertical guide rod it? rigidly secured to the stationary lower end of the siphon tubes outlet portion I23 as by a bracket i558 extends past the bellows section 22 and is slidably engaged within the eye I39 at the outer end of a bracket i4! rigid with the movable portion of the siphon tubes outer portion I23 above the bellows section I22.

As in the previously described modifications, the arm I32 is provided with two recesses, I46 and I il, the former being deeper than the latter, i. e., the bottom of the recess :45 is disposed at a greater radial distance from the operating shaft I-B than is the bottom of recess Ml. Consequently, when a finger Hi9 carried by the shaft M8 is swung counter-clockwise from the position in'which it is illustrated, it will leave the deeper recess IE6. This swings the arm i32 clockwise and forces a fioat I55, which is operably connected to the arm I32, deeper into the water within the tank I28. The finger It?! will seat within the shallower recess 5% where it will be retained by pressure of the arm I32 thereagainst because of the. tendency for the float I5! to rise within the water, with the result that a valve I56 operably connected to the finger i 38 by a push rod i5? will be retained in its uppermost position with a horizontally extending passage I5'IA V '9 therein interconnecting the opposed portions of the water delivery tube I58, as long as the finger I49 remains withinthe shallower recess I46.

Consequently, delivery of water directly into the siphon tube I2 I from the water supply tube I34 will be maintained until a sufficient quantity of water has been withdrawn from the tank I28 to permit further lowering of the float IliI from the position to which it was forced when the finger I 49 was moved into the shallower recess I46. For the purpose of prolonging this time, I prefer to provide a baffle I6I upon the upper end of the vertically extending portion I62 of the delivery tube I58 within the lower end of the siphon tubes inlet portion I21. Preferably a cylindrical housing I63 closed at its lower end I64 and having a plurality of orifices I66 in its side wall is also provided upon the vertically extending portion I62 of the delivery tube I58, the upper end of this housing being open and extending past the baffle I6I. The outside diameter of this housing I63 is only slightly less than the inside'diameter of the inlet portion I21 of the siphon tube, and the diameter of the baffle I6I is only slightly less than the inside diameter of the housing I63, with the result that the housing I63 of the baflle I6I cooperates in retarding the rate at which water stored within the tank I28 will be siphoned therefrom.

The retardation in the rate of discharge of water stored within the tank I28 thus attained is a feature of importance inasmuch as it makes it possible to comply with the local ordinances requiring that each flushing operation must provide not less than a specified minimum quantity of water and still use a materially smaller tank than would be necessary were reliance placed solely upon the water stored within the tank to provide the required quantity. In fact, it has been found by actual experimentation that it is entirely satisfactory to employ a tank I28, the capacity of which is in the neighborhood of only 2 /2 gallons, and to retard the rate at which the 2 gallons stored within the tank is withdrawn therefrom to 'such an extent that 5%; or 6 gallons or even more water is delivered through the tanks discharge pipe I1I before the level of the water within the tank reaches the inlet end of the siphon tube I2I to break the siphonic action. A flush tank of such small capacit is a particularly desirable feature inasmuch as it could be shaped for reception between normally spaced studs and thereby substantially concealed Within a wall construction. This not only would yield a more attractive appearance from an architectural standpoint, but also would save valuable space by avoiding the necessity of employing a flush box protruding into the room space.

Because of these details the embodiment of siphon tube I2I, illustrated in Figure 5, is particularly advantageous since it requires no lateral movement and, therefore, is better adapted than the first-described laterally movable siphon tube, the lateral displacement of which requires more side clearance within the tank I28 than the vertically moving siphon I2I.

In the modification of siphon tube illustrated in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive, a telescopic outlet section I16, a movable inlet portion I11, and bend I18 are provided. The telescopic section I16 comprises a stationary section I8I into the upper end of which the lower end of a movable section I82 extends. A slidable, substantially Watertight seal is established between the sec- 'cess I84 and the under surface of a radial flange I86 of a collar I81. The cylindrical flange I88 of the collar I8! is interiorly threaded for its reception upon the upper end of the stationary sec- I tion I8! so as to position the collarIBI rigidly but removably thereupon. Within the stationary section I8I and below the collar I81, the movable section I82 is provided with a collar I9I which is rigid but removably fastened in position upon the movable section I82, preferably through the expedient of an exteriorly tapered, downwardly extending cylindrical flange I92 which is radially slotted at spaced intervals throughout its circumference as indicated at I93. This cylindrical flange I92 has a tapered thread I94 formed on its outer surface for the reception of a complementarily threaded ring I96 which, when tightened upon the threaded flange I92, causes the flange I92 to be squeezed tightly against the movable section I82 to anchor it firmly thereupon.

Extending upwardly from the collar I9I is a cylindrical flange I91 having a relatively sharp annular edge I98 and its upper end engageable with the packing I83 to provide a substantially watertight seal between the sections I8I and I82 when the movable section I82 is at its upper extreme of movement. A coil spring 20I is under compression between a spider 202 disposed Within and rigidly secured to the stationary section II, and an upper spider 203 carried by the movable section'i82. The upper spider 203 is adjustable so as to make possible the variation in the force with-which the spring effects seating of the sharp edge I98 against the packing I83. Such adjustment is attainable by means of an adjusting screw 204 threaded through a suitable bushing 206 rigidly seated in a wall of the movable section I82, the inner end of the screw 204 being seated within a cup 201 rigid with the spider 203 and spaced thereabove as by a plurality of rods 208.

I claim:

1. In flushing apparatus of the class indicated for discharging Water from a flush tank, a discharge pipe leading from said tank, a siphon tube movably mounted within said tank and communicating with said discharge pipe, means for lowering said siphon tube within water contained within said tank, means for jetting a stream of water into the inlet of said siphon tube, means cooperatively associated with said lowering means for actuating said jetting means as said lowering means is operated, means operative upon release of said submerging means for moving said siphon tube to a position wherein its inlet is adjacent the low water level within said tank, means for maintaining said stream within said siphon tube substantially'until the level of water within said tank falls to said low water level, and means operative substantially as the, surface of the water within said tank reaches said low water level for directing the water of said stream into said tank outside of said siphon tube.

2. In flushing apparatus of the character described, a storage tank, a discharge pipe leading from said tank, a siphon tube movably mounted within said tank and communicating at its outlet end with said discharge pipe, means for supplying water under pressure to said tank, a supply valve associated therewith, a delivery tube leading from said valve, means associated with said delivery tube for jetting water from said tube into the inlet end of said siphon tube, a float operably connected to said supply valve to open and close that supply valve by moving downwards and upwards, respectively, within said tank, a deflector valve interposed within said delivery tube for optionally directing water passing through said tube to said jetting means or to the interior of said tank outside said siphon tube, manually operable means for simultaneously lowering said float to open said supply valve and moving said deflector valve to that position thereof wherein water is delivered to said jetting means, means operable whilesaid siphon tube is in lowered position for restricting flow of water stored within said tank into said siphon tube, releasable means for retaining said siphon tube in lowered position, means operable when the Water level within said tank has dropped to a predetermined lower level for releasing said siphon tube, and means for returning said siphon tube to its upper position upon release of said retaining means.

In flushing apparatus of the character described, a storage tank, a discharge pipe leading from said tank, a siphon tube movably mounted Within said tank and communicating at its outlet end with said discharge pipe, means for supplying water under pressure to said tank, a supply valve associated therewith, a delivery tube leading from said valve, means associated with said delivery tube for jetting Water from said tube into the inlet end of said siphon tube, a float operably connected to said supply valve to open and close that supply valve by moving downwards and upwards, respectively, within said tank, a deflector valve interposed within said delivery tube for optionally directing water pass- 12 ing through-said tube to said jetting means or to the interior of said tank outside's'aidsiphon tube, manually operable means 'for'simultaneously lowering said float to open said supply valve and moving said deflector valve to that position thereof wherein water is delivered to said jetting means, means operable while saidsiph'ontube is in lowered position 'for restricting flow of water stored wtihin said tank into said siphon tube, releasable means for retaining said siphon tube in lowered position, means operable when the water level within said tank has dropped to a predetermined lower level for releasingjsaid siphon tube, and means for returning said siphon tube to its upper position upon release of said retaining means, said deflector-valve moving means also being retained in said jet-"operating position by said retaining means until release thereby of said siphon tube. I

JESSE C. OWENS.

REFERENCES (lITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 692,611 Burgum Febfi, 1902 1,203,106 Fulton Oct. 31, 1916 1,251,802 Miller Jan. 1, 1918 1,625,311 Gondolf Apr. 19, 1927 2,999,631 Serra Nov. 16, 193

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 248,459 Germany June 21, 1912 

